-1Shadow Warrior
REVISED AND REDONE!
By: Raven
Disclaimer: I don't own Ronin Warriors, however, the original characters within do belong to me, as well as the plot. (originals consist of; Leora, Jenna, Zach, and Victor)
A/N: So after going through old stories on the site I realized in utter horror how horribly I used to write. You can definitely see an improvement in my writing if you had read the first version of this fanfic. I couldn't finish re-reading it, it was that horrible to me. So, I decided to redo it. I would also like to point out that it is vastly different than the first version as I have made some serious improvements. The whole idea of Lady Ronins was just so overdone that I couldn't stand it. It's a lot easier to just stick with the guys being the heroes! Besides, it's got to be original…in some context.
Break!
Prologue:
Lightening flashed along the horizon and somewhere beyond it thunder crashed and rain began to drop from the black clouds that had started it all. The wind howled and brought with it the sour taste of battle. The rebellion was still going strong on the other side of the Netherworld and rumors had spread quickly of a new ruler over this dark kingdom. It frightened the woman standing on the cliff overlooking the landscape far below her. She and the Warlords had all worked so hard to purify the darkness that hearing of this new war, this new ruler, had devastated her.
But it wasn't just that. Something about this new ruler struck her as odd and dangerous. The defeat of Talpa had been an accomplishment of monstrous proportions all on its own. Was it possible that this new ruler truly had the strength to overtake the Netherworld and rule it as Talpa had once done? What would happen if that were to be true?
Kayura's blue eyes glittered faintly as the breeze swept upwards from the world below to surround her atop the cliff.
"We can overcome this,"
"Can we, Dais?" Kayura looked over her shoulder briefly, trying to ignore the dread that roused and swam in the pit of her stomach. "What if we can't?"
"If we cannot put out this fire on our own, we will ask for assistance from the Ronins."
Kayura should have agreed with that, but for some reason, she felt strongly against it. "It's been five years, Dais. What right have we to disturb their lives like this? What right have we to drag them into our problems?"
"My love, where the Netherworld is involved, it is not just our problem, but everyone's problem. Surely you see that? If this new Lord is stronger than Talpa, if we cannot defeat him on our own, we will need the aid of the Ronins. They've kept up their training. They are just as strong, if not stronger, than before. You must understand, that if it comes down to it, we will ask for their help,"
"I'm sorry, Dais. I do not agree, however, if it must be done, then it must be done," She turned towards him and shook her head, a sigh escaping her thin lips. "Many have begun to settle down. I don't feel that it's right to take them away from the peace they have sought their entire lives." Again, Kayura sighed into the cool night air. "If only Anubis were still with us, he'd know how to handle this,"
"We all miss him, Kayura,"
"I know," She moved away from Dais' stony form and headed towards the large cabin a few yards down from where she'd been standing. "The Ancient told us that a sacrifice would have to be made, but why did it have to be him? Especially when the sacrifice was made for myself?"
"You feel that you were undeserving? Kayura, Anubis sacrificed himself to save you from the darkness that had been woven around you not because the Ancient told him to do so, but because it was his choice to make. He felt, I'm sure, that by saving you he could save his soul from damnation. His soul was redeemed, purified by the action. You should harbor no guilt for such an honorable and honest move. Anubis would not have it,"
"I understand," She moved forward again and left Dais on the cliff, disappearing into the warmth the cabin offered her. Dais looked after her for a few moments before turning to face the horizon, his good eye squinting in the darkness. "Would it really have to come to that? Will the Ronins really have to be summoned again?"
The wind brought him no answer.
